July picture book of the month: Big Bear's Bottom by Steve Smallman

July's picture book choice is Big Bear's Bottom, the story of a loveable bear who gets into all manner of mishaps with his enormous bottom that just keeps getting in the way. If you think you're dcs will enjoy reading this funny tale from award winning author Steve Smallman apply for a free copy and come back to let us know what they think on this thread.

My copy of this book arrived this morning and I read it to my ds (8months) and dd (4). Dd thought it was hilarious, but then, anything with the word bottom in it is funny as far as she is concerned! Ds seemed to enjoy the sound of the rhyme and was interested in the pictures. A nice story, DD will want to read it again.

Ours arrived this morning. DD (3) was desperate to read it immediately and enjoyed the rhyming and the fact that it says "bottom" a lot. Will read it again when DS (6) is home from school. I have a feeling he's going to find it hilarious

We got our copy today, and I read it with DS2 (3). He really liked it - he said his favourite bit was where the bear's bottom got stuck in the tree.

I thought it was a good book. The pictures are bright and engaging with lots of little details. The story was cute and the rhyme scheme worked well - none of them felt forced and the lines all scanned properly (a particular bugbear of mine). I also liked the predictability of the fourth line of each stanza ending with "bottom" - very engaging for pre-readers.

Our copy came this morning, the book looks very colourful with good clear pictures. enough of a story to keep children interested. would say this is a good book for either a boy or a girl and it will make them laugh.

Thank you for the book which arrived yesterday. I loved the bright illustrations, and rhyming text. My DD liked the idea of bears big bottom and appealed to her sense of humour! I am going to use the book as well with my 6 year old who needs to read with more expression. This book has lovely characters, easy to read, and will be a good tool to do this with her. Thank you for the book, it gets a thumbs up from our house.

Our copy arrived yesterday. I was so chuffed and DS wanted it read to him striaght away. We liked the rhyming prose, and the bear walking along with a tree on his bottom. I like the little comic asides made by the other characters, seperate to the main text. DS wasn't particularly interested in them, but they made me smile which is always important if you've got to reread the thing again and again.

We received our copy today. Great book, lovely, colourful illustrations. Ds was a little unsure when he saw the cover of the book, however, he decided he rather liked the big bear at the end as he was kind to his friends. It has been decided that the white mouse is his favourite toy and the big bear is the five foot, big bottomed and cross eyed animal which is currently living in his bedroom, having been thrown out by other members of my family. (It looks like a real life bear.) Thank you once more Mumsnet.

I read it again with DS and DD last night at bedtime. DH walked in and was enjoying it too. It's definitely a nice book to read. It flows well and has plenty of opportunities for funny voices to make the children giggle. Both DH and DS found the repeated use of the word "bottom" funny too!

I received this book yesterday and read it to my daughters as their bedtime story, they loved it. My youngest liked the pictures. She kept pointing at the bear and saying bottom which she found very funny. My eldest (6) also really enjoyed it. The story flows nicely and is easy to read. I agree with another poster that said there is plenty of opportunities for funny voices. My daughter enjoyed taking it in turns with me to provide the voices and she too loved the fact that it was about a bears bottom!!

My 6 year old son has been so excited waiting for this book. He wasn't disappointed when it arrived. Anything with the word 'bottom' in it is sure to entertain. We read it together and he also reads it on his own. The pictures are lovely. He has asked to take it on holiday as he loves it. Thank you

What a sweet little book! Unfortunately my DS didn't think the same because he has a slightly irrational fear of foxes (thanks to the gruffalo) and I hadn't realised there was a fox in it until I started reading it to him. Very sweet story and the illustrations are lovely. Although they did the dreaded landscape to portrait thing on one of the pages which I really dislike for some reason. We did enjoy it and liked that bear's big bottom saves the day.

Thank you for the free copy. What a fantastic book, my children absolutely loved it. Obviously with the word 'bottom' being used so regularly in the book, they were in hysterics most of the time. A good read that my reception class children could read themselves.

Received our copy, thank you. DS and Dh loved it, though DS was a little sad when big bear hid after his bottom caused a lot of trouble! He loved the big bear bottom monster tree as well. It was a lovely book.

Little one absolutely loves this book we have to read it over and over again.Its a bit of a tongue twister.Like that it tells a story of friendship.Thought it was a bit similar to the gruffalo though,some of the animation is very similar as well.Would recommend this book to other parents.

I really like this book, the story is similar to others we have read but I love the illustrations, bright and colourful with lots to see and talk about in the pictures with DS2 (2). My DD2 (6) hasn't had a chance to read it yet but I know she's going to find the much repeated 'bottom' very very funny. Thank you for a lovely book.